Hi guys! Been a while since I updated here. Currently taking a well-earned break from work. I did have to nip back to work on Wednesday last week, to help get a DVD ready for a big new order and clear up an artwork backlog but the good news is I've got another day tacked onto my holiday time by way of compensation.

Went into London on Thursday last week for another infusion of Cyclophosphamide Unfortunately, there was industrial action on the London Underground, which pretty much put paid to any ideas of sightseeing. As it was, I felt pretty blah for several days afterwards which meant I didn't go to the London HQ Devmeet on Sunday.

I've been making good use of my time off to do some sorting out at home. I'm in the process of reorganising my investments, in particularly starting a new personal pension plan and moving my short-term cash savings to somewhere where they'll earn more interest. (Unfortunately, falling bank rates plus the turbulent economy have not been kind to my savings ) I'm also going to have to cut down on my retail therapy and put more aside in the future, if I want to be able to a) get ahead, and b) have something to live on when I'm a Senior for real.

Other than that, not a lot else going, mainly chilling out. Might go into London later this week and go visit some museums.

_{Journal skin used is by =moonfreak - [link]}

Currently feeling pretty out of whack... had the first of my next round of infusions of Cyclophosphamide last Thursday, and the combination of that and the course of Augmentin that I'd just finished seems to have left me feeling really tired regardless of how much sleep I've had during the night. Thankfully, I'm able to get through the day with plenty of tea, but I really need to stay focussed or I just zone out.

Anyway, as the title of this entry suggests, I've been all up in the Facebook of late. Not only are a large number of my Devious mates on there, but also most of my old buddies from the Slashdot days. And now my parents have been enticed online, with a little help from my sis. And in addition to letting me stay in touch with all my peeps, it's my main source of updates from the various other sites that I frequent. I've pruned down my Google Reader list and my Twitter follow lists considerably as a result, which is just as well as that means less time wasted trying to keep up. And now I hear that Facebook are going to enable linking of your Facebook and Google accounts, which potentially means even more of my online life will be tied into my Facebook profile in future.

(In case you're curious... -> [link] <- my Facebook profile )

Another thing that is tying me into Facebook is my latest gadget acquisition - the INQ1 phone, currently available on the 3 network here in the UK. It has built-in Facebook, Last.fm, Windows Messenger, Yahoo! and Google services, and Skype, plus a decent web browser, music player and a 3.2MP camera. OK, it's not an iPhone, but on the other hands it's a heck of a lot cheaper than the iPhone. I'm really liking it. (Turns out that `mnoo has been a tester for INQ for a while now, she was able to answer a lot of my questions about the phone )

Been doing some music retail therapy as well, which always gladdens my heart. More on that another time, as I'm still in the process of ripping all of it into iTunes. Also, bought and installed 4GB of RAM for my desktop PC. So at least the geek side of my life is doing well, even if I'm still a bit iffy health-wise.

-MT.

Been at the hospital(s) a lot over the last month. IV infusion of Cyclophosphamide. More blood tests. Bone density scan to check I wasn't losing calcium due to the steroids. (All clear on that front). More consultation with the rheumatology peeps are UCLH. (Result: temporarily upping my steroid dosage for a fortnight, plus another round of IV infusions...) And today I had a check up on my nose - unfortunately, the congestion has returned possibly due to reduction in steroids the previous month. Had a full exam, meaning I had to have a local anaesthetic sprayed in there followed by a fibre-optic tube being poked inside. I've been prescribed more antibiotics and a spray, specifically to combat the inflammation in my nasal cavity. I'm pretty much pilled up all day long now.

On the plus side, my foot is healed up now. So I'm able to walk properly again.

Oh, and we're off to see "Wolverine" on Sunday. Sis quite fancies Hugh Jackman. Might even cause her to forsake Johnny Depp, seeing as he's got going to be on the market again any time soon.

=Circleoffriends is back up and running again, I'm pleased to announce. Gonna do some work this weekend to get more support and awareness going about what I'm trying to do now with the group.

Oh, and I became a Senior Member the other day. Thanks to everyone who stopped by with well-wishes. NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!

-MT.

Just found out via Facebook that my beloved Amy `dualdesigns passed away suddenly the other day. Trying to find out more info at the moment.



Need to figure out what to do with =Circleoffriends now... Amy was the founder and guiding light... I'm gonna try and restart things, but it's gonna be hard work...

-MT.

Hey guys, just bringing you up to speed with what's going on with my life.

Bad news is that I'm currently off work, due to constant pain from the wounds on my left foot. I'm getting it treated at my local doctor's surgery, and two of the three lesions have started to heal up. Unfortunately, the remaining one is underneath my big toe, where the skin is really thin, and it's still covered by dead matter that is not lifting yet. Really sore. I've now been prescribed stronger painkillers, and I'm due to see a dermatologist next week to discuss how to get this lesion fixed.

Better news is that I went into London a few weeks back to have the first of many IV infusions of Cyclophosphamide, in order to stop and bring under control the Wegener's Syndrome that has been dogging my health for a year and more. Was fairly painless, and I brought my iPod with me so I was entertained whilst sat around with the IV stuck in my arm. I've got another consultation coming up soon, when my bloodwork and urine analysis will be reviewed by their renal unit. Keeping that these infusions do the job!

Other than that, not much going on... literally. Keeping busy at home, seeing as I've got to rest up. Done some spring-cleaning, chucked out some junk, and I'm managed to get my GMail inbox under control at long last. Been on Twitter and Facebook a lot as well, as some of you may have spotted. Hopefully, I can also work on getting my art mojo back on. I've reinstalled most of my graphic apps, so here's hoping!

-MT.